INDIAN TRIBAL CULTURE - Religion


INDIAN TRIBAL CULTURE - Religion
India is known to be a secular country, owing to the number of religions that are recognised and followed here. This is true even for the various tribal populations present in the country. Many Indians belonging to these populations adhere to traditional Indian tribal religions, often syncretised with one or more of the major religious traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam or Christianity. In keeping with the general nature of Indian religion, these particular religions often involve traditions of ancestor worship or worship of spirits of natural features. Tribal beliefs persist as folk religion even among those converted to a major religion.





Opposed to the case of most Indians, most tribal people are not Hindus or Muslims. Many are animists and some are Christians. One of the most studied religions of the tribes is that of the Santals of Orissa, Bihar and West Bengal. Those who practice the Santal religion believe in the ‘Thakurji’, the supreme deity who ultimately controls the entire universe. Different aspects of the world are believed to be handled by a court of spirits called Bonga, who are placated with offerings and prayers in order to ward off evil spirits. It is believed that evil spirits are responsible for the spread of diseases and these spirits, along with the ‘Bonga’ are thought to inhabit village boundaries, mountains, water, tigers and the forest. Similar beliefs are common among other tribes of northeast and central India such as the Kharia, Munda, and Oraon.



Apart from this there are a variety of other tribal religious beliefs. The Gonds worship clan Gods, mother earth, village deities, mountain Gods, ancestor spirits and spirits associated with nature. The Bhils merge animism with Hinduism. The Toda and Abor tribes believe in a pantheon of deities. There are several other cults and minority folk beliefs along that vary across the different tribes.


The process of integration within a national, political and economic system is causing great pressure of cultural assimilation for these tribal religions which are now slowly vanishing.

BY: Faaiqa Aisha
1st BSc. Psychology

Comments

  1. BlogFebruary 11, 2019 at 8:13 PM

    This blog is so informative. This gives the various religious beliefs and the religion followed by the various tribes of India.
    Varshaa.R

    ReplyDelete
  2. imaginatively creativeFebruary 11, 2019 at 9:32 PM

    The blog clearly explains the different religions that prevail across the indian tribes.This proves india as a secular country only.
    G.Abirami

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownFebruary 12, 2019 at 5:40 AM

    Hamsika
    amazing! I didnt know that the concept of religion exists among the tribals. I was eager and curious while reading through the texts to know more about them.

    ReplyDelete
  4. imaginatively creativeFebruary 12, 2019 at 6:47 AM

    A very informative blog. -Archita. T. Menon

    ReplyDelete
  5. imaginatively creativeFebruary 12, 2019 at 7:30 AM

    The content is very intriguing and fascinating to read.
    Faadila Aisha

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CULTURE OF ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR CONT

Image
ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR CULTURE Andaman and Nicobar is home to many indigenous tribes and tribes that settled here from other parts of the world. Thus Andaman and Nicobar has an amalgamation of different cultures. And dances of these tribes represent the distinctness in cultures. Nicobari dance is one the most important and oldest traditional dances of Andaman & Nicobar.  It is practiced by the Nicobari tribe, who live in the Car Nicobar Island. One can witness the Nicobari dance during the Ossuary Feast, which is more commonly known as the Pig Festival. his dance is a way of showing one's respect to the departed head of the family. It is generally performed during the full moon, under the swinging palm trees. The dancers wearing coconut leaves, sway to the rhythm of traditional songs sung by the leader. One can witness many other dance forms in Andaman and Nicobar while visiting these tribes. Some folk dances can also be seen during the Island Tourism festi...
Read more

CULTURE OF EAST INDIA- ANDAMAN CONT

Image
CULTURE OF ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS Clothing in Andaman and the Nicobar islands Every region of India displays its own culture along with their language, religion and clothing styles. According to the Indian culture, both the men and women are expected to dress up in a civilized manner. But surprisingly enough, there still exists an isolated culture in India where people hardly care for covering their body with any clothes. Whereas modern dressing styles and ultra modern attires are ruling the multiplex markets and shopping malls in the cities of India and other parts of the world, the peasants of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are still far away from the touch of modernity. There is no such specific attire in Andaman and Nicobar islands.  Till date there are many people from Andaman and Nicobar Islands who do not wear any dress. This is mainly due to their detachment from the civilized world. The Sentinelese people still move naked in the islands.  The se...
Read more

CULTURE OF WESTERN INDIA-MADHYA PRADESH CONT...

Image
Jewellery Artists in Madhya Pradesh design beautiful gold and silver jewellery studded with precious stones and pearls. These ornaments jewellery with the enamel work which makes them look jewellery. Lac bangles and jewellery is the sunshine of Indore and Rewa Jewelry markets. Also, the heavy Rajasthani gold jewellery has a massive impact in Madhya Pradesh. The Goldsmiths forge chokers, bead, chains, earrings, and hair ornaments in the traditional designs, their forte being the Mangalsutra and Hansuli. If we focus on traditional jewellery, the tribal folks of the Bastar district are very tender to it. The use of grass, beads, and cane is excessive. The ornaments are spectacular in terms of their colour, size, and variations. The widely he ssories of the women in Bastar are   ld acceKhilli wala Kada (wrist), Daal and kavali (bangles), Taagali (necklace), Paan Wala haar (necklace), Jhumki (earrings), finger rings in spiral forms and toe rings like Bichua, Angootha,...
Read more